Losing unexpectedly in the postseason always stings even the most veteran players, and for Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White, their 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. After the 109-100 defeat at TD Garden this past Saturday (May 2), White said that the exit "really sucks."
"You always think you're going to play for a long time," said the Colorado native. "And it ends so quickly ... super proud of the guys for an amazing year, and I'm thankful and blessed to be a part of this team but it just sucks." With star Boston forward Jayson Tatum on the bench with knee soreness, it was imperative for White to snap his series shooting slump for the Celtics to have a shot at beating the resurgent Sixers.
And while the Colorado - Boulder alum did hit several timely treys, he also went 9-of-26 from the field and 5-of-16 from beyond the arc, joining Boston offensive mainstays Jaylen Brown (12-of-27) and Payton Pritchard (5-of-13) as the primary culprits behind another inefficient outing of Celtics offense that would ultimately doom Boston.
"Shooting is obviously a big part of the game," said White, "but it's not the only part of the game. And I think there's a lot of different ways to impact it, winning, and helping us win games even if you aren't making shots."
"But obviously shooting is a really big part of the game, and I think we got a lot of good looks. We just didn't knock them down, especially down the stretch there. So, I've got to go to the gym this summer and come back better."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Derrick White vows to come back better as a Celtics shooter next season
